Read about the unreasonable destruction of a beautiful, native animal of Britain.The government have proposed a cull that could see up to 100,000 badger shot as they stir from their sets at night, leaving some in agony and with unborn young. This is because cattle farmers have had to slaughter their herds with bovine TB, which Badgers also happen to carry.

Did you know that only 11% badgers actually carry TB?Did you know that cattle carry TB and pass it onto each other in cramped conditions?Did you know that previous culls on Badgers were ineffective to the infection of TB in cattle, and scientific research shows that this cull will not eradicate TB, but possibly make it worse?

TB is also a big problem with prairie dogs in my part of the world (North American prairies). There is a lot of concern the rodents will pass TB to the cattle. Of course TB was brought to North America in the cattle and humans but as a potential host, they want to kill off the last of the prairie dogs and the related ground squirrels. Coyotes are now on the hit list here for TB.

Read about the unreasonable destruction of a beautiful, native animal of Britain.The government have proposed a cull that could see up to 100,000 badger shot as they stir from their sets at night, leaving some in agony and with unborn young. This is because cattle farmers have had to slaughter their herds with bovine TB, which Badgers also happen to carry.

Did you know that only 11% badgers actually carry TB?Did you know that cattle carry TB and pass it onto each other in cramped conditions?Did you know that previous culls on Badgers were ineffective to the infection of TB in cattle, and scientific research shows that this cull will not eradicate TB, but possibly make it worse?

_________________"With every decision, think seven generations ahead of the consequences of your actions" Ute rule of life.“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children”― Chief Seattle“Those Who Have the Privilege to Know Have the Duty to Act”…Albert Einstein

I recommend all those concerned to read a very recent issue of "Nature" (vol. 390, pp317-318, 2012, October, http://www.nature.com/news/badger-battl ... nd-1.11595) where the proposed culls are discussed. As is usual, the picture given by the original writer to this forum is not complete. In brief, the cull may be necessary to provide a true picture of the real effectiveness of the measure. To have the culling done by shooters rather than trapping or gassing is a no-brainer. So go and read up on some of the background for all this before getting into more outrage. Things are never simple.

So, to the question of whether badgers are responsible for increasing infection rates in cattle. If they are, how have cattle remained free of bTB in Scotland, where no badgers have been killed? Why do they have it in the Isle of Man, where there are no badgers? And why are bTB rates twice as high in Ireland, where so many badgers have been killed that they are extinct in many areas?